Ethan had never been one to pry into the lives of others. He had spent most of his existence trying to stay unnoticed, fading into the background where it was safe. But here, in this small apartment with its paper-thin walls, it was impossible to ignore her.
Sienna.
She occupied his thoughts more than he cared to admit. Every time he saw her—whether in the hallways, at her door, or in the shared laundry room—he felt an odd mix of curiosity and longing. She was radiant, effortlessly confident in a way that made his stomach tighten. And yet, there was something about her that felt just out of reach, like a fleeting dream he could never quite hold onto.
He told himself that his fascination was harmless, that he was just a lonely guy drawn to the first person who had ever really noticed him. But then, there were the men—the ones who visited her apartment at odd hours, slipping in and out like shadows in the night.
At first, he had barely noticed. He wasn't the type to sit by the peephole and spy on his neighbors. But there were moments—fleeting, half-conscious moments—when he would wake up in the dead of night to the sound of footsteps in the hallway. The quiet click of a door closing. Low murmurs, deep voices, and sometimes… laughter.
It wasn't his business. He had no right to wonder. And yet, he did.
One evening, as Ethan returned from the small convenience store down the street, he saw him.
A tall man with slicked-back hair, dressed in an expensive-looking coat, standing outside Sienna's door. He rapped his knuckles against it twice, the sound sharp in the otherwise silent hallway. Within seconds, the door creaked open just a sliver, revealing the familiar silhouette of Sienna.
Ethan slowed his steps, his pulse inexplicably quickening. He wasn't sure why he suddenly felt the need to watch. Maybe it was simple curiosity. Maybe it was something deeper, something darker.
Sienna leaned against the doorframe, her posture relaxed but inviting. "You're early," she said in that smooth, almost lazy voice of hers.
The man smirked, stepping closer. "Couldn't wait."
Ethan froze.
There was something intimate in the way they spoke, in the way she tilted her head slightly, letting her long hair cascade over one shoulder. The man reached up, his fingers grazing her chin before trailing downward, the touch lingering just a second too long.
Sienna chuckled, low and throaty. "Eager tonight, aren't we?"
Ethan's stomach twisted.
Before he could process what he was doing, he fumbled with his keys, jamming them into the lock to announce his presence. The sharp clink echoed down the hallway, making Sienna glance in his direction.
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
Her gaze was unreadable—amused, maybe, or something else entirely. But she didn't say anything. She just smirked, as if she knew exactly what he had been thinking, and then stepped back into her apartment, pulling the man in with her. The door shut behind them with a quiet click.
Ethan swallowed hard, his hands trembling slightly as he pushed his way inside his own apartment. The moment he was alone, he let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
It wasn't his business.
It wasn't his business.
But as he lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, he couldn't stop himself from wondering. From picturing the way she had looked at him—like she had dared him to ask, dared him to push past his own hesitations.
He wasn't sure he wanted the answer.
But deep down, he feared he already knew it.